Serengeti
The oldest national park in Tanzania, the word Serengeti is derived from the Maasai word meaning “endless plain”. Often it seems that places so famous lead to expectations so high that leads to a bit of disappointment. That is not the case with the Serengeti. It indeed deserves all its reputation. No matter what time […]
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Along with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater is a destination not to be missed. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is not a national park — unlike national parks, the indigenous Maasai population is still allowed to live within the area, balancing preservation, human development, and tourism in a remarkable way. […]
Tarangire National Park
Beautiful and often underrated, Tarangire is home to the highest concentration of elephants anywhere in Africa. The Tarangire River is the only water source in the area during the dry season, drawing enormous numbers of animals and making the park exceptional from January–February and July–October. The landscape is dramatic and distinctive — dotted with ancient […]
Lake Manyara
Situated along the Great Rift Valley, Lake Manyara National Park is built around a shallow soda lake that makes up two-thirds of the park’s area. It is a favourite among birdwatchers, with over 400 species recorded. During the wet season (March–May, November), the lake hosts large flamingo flocks, though the changing lake chemistry means flamingos […]
Arusha National Park
The most conveniently located park on the northern circuit, Arusha National Park is less than an hour from both Arusha and Moshi. Despite this, it remains pleasantly uncrowded. The park features lovely and varied landscapes, and is home to Tanzania’s second highest mountain, Mt Meru — a spectacular 4-day trek in its own right. Wildlife […]
Mkomazi National Park
Mkomazi sits in the opposite direction from most northern circuit parks — southeast of Moshi near the town of Same (pronounced “SAH-may”). This makes it difficult to combine with other destinations, but it rewards those who seek it out. As one of Tanzania’s newer national parks, Mkomazi is still developing its infrastructure, but it has […]
Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai
North of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, near the Kenyan border, lies one of Tanzania’s most remote and otherworldly destinations. Lake Natron is a shallow soda lake with a pH close to that of ammonia — almost nothing can survive in its waters except an algae that sustains large flocks of flamingos. The surrounding landscape is […]
Lake Eyasi — Hadzabe & Datooga
Southwest of Lake Manyara and east of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Eyasi is a shallow soda lake best known for offering one of the most remarkable cultural experiences in Tanzania: a visit to the Hadzabe and Datooga tribes. The Hadzabe (Hadza) are one of the last true hunter-gatherer tribes remaining in the world. They […]